Zhao Yunlin then stepped forward to persuade, "Mom, Cheng Tao is right. If you hit your sister-in-law, how will you explain it to your elder brother? Have you forgotten what your elder brother said before he left?"
Wang Hongxia's actions paused. She certainly hadn't forgotten.
This was the first time Zhao Jianguo had warned her with the tone one would use for an enemy. If Zhou Yunru suffered any harm, he would take Zhou Yunru back to her maiden home and become a live-in son-in-law!
Wang Hongxia couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with sadness. "So I'm just supposed to stand by and watch? Let her, Zhou Yunru, bully me like this?"
It had always been mothers-in-law tormenting their daughters-in-law, never a mother-in-law as wronged as her!
Cheng Tao quickly said, "How can you say stand by and watch? When she comes back later, she's definitely going to tell us she's pregnant. Then Mom will have a reason to hit her, right? This time, she made a mistake, and she deserves to be hit!"
It would be best if Zhou Yunru didn't say anything, then nothing would happen, and she could still think of a way to get rid of her child without anyone noticing.
If Zhou Yunru spoke up, then when Wang Hongxia got into a fight with her, it would have nothing to do with Cheng Tao.
Zhao Yunlin found it a bit strange. It wasn't like he hadn't lived under the same roof as Zhou Yunru before.
After so many years of getting along, it couldn't possibly be fake, right?
No matter how he looked at her, she didn't seem like the type of person who would scheme.
"Tao'er, could there be some misunderstanding?"
He still wanted to build a house in the commune, which would require a lot of money.
Working alone was naturally not as good as Zhao Jianguo working alongside him.
It wouldn't be good if he completely offended Zhao Jianguo because of this matter.
Cheng Tao snorted, "I heard it with my own ears, how could I be wrong? Are you doubting that I'm lying?"
"Of course not. Why would you lie for no reason?"
Cheng Tao smiled faintly, "I didn't plan to tell Mom. It would seem like I was instigating trouble. It's just that Mom overheard it by accident, and there's nothing I can do."
Wang Hongxia glanced at her coldly and didn't say anything.
She was still thinking about how to punish Zhou Yunru if she was indeed lying about being pregnant when she returned.
...
Zhou Yunru dared not go home too early. After drinking the medicine at Uncle Li's house, she felt much better and then helped Cheng You gather medicinal herbs.
She squatted beside Cheng You and secretly said, "Cheng You, my body recovered so quickly because of you, right?"
Cheng You's movements paused, as if frozen, unsure of what to say.
Her expression was a little flustered, her deer-like eyes darting around in panic.
Zhou Yunru smiled, "I'll only say it this once, and from now on, I'll pretend I didn't know. I'm very grateful to you. You saved me and my child, and you saved Jianguo."
If this child were lost, she didn't know if she could survive.
If both she and the child were gone, Zhao Jianguo would likely lose half his life.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Cheng You had saved their entire family.
"Sister-in-law, this is all I should do."
Zhou Yunru smiled, "What's there to say about should or shouldn't, it's all about whether you want to or not."
Since entering the old Zhao family, she had witnessed the ugliest side of human nature.
In fact, Cheng You's situation wasn't much better than hers.
She didn't know what magical ability Cheng You possessed, but she knew that if others found out about this, Cheng Tianhua would drain every last bit of value from this daughter and then abandon her.
Cheng You had saved her at great risk.
"However, sister-in-law still wants to tell you, it's best to keep some things a secret. Don't gamble on other people's conscience; not everyone has it."
Cheng You nodded. She had only used it on Qi Chengyan and Zhou Yunru.
The former was the man she liked, and the latter was for the sake of the child in her womb.
As for others, the most she did was add a drop of condensed dew while washing the medicinal herbs.
Zhou Yunru stopped at a hint, not continuing further.
Cheng You was too naive. She found it quite good and hoped this young girl would maintain her pure heart, yet she also worried for her. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
They worked until evening. As dusk deepened, Zhou Yunru had to face reality.
Even if she escaped, she could only escape for so long.
She still had to return to the old Zhao family eventually.
"I'm going back now. I'll come to see you again tomorrow if I have time."
But she probably wouldn't have the chance.
Cheng You glanced at the sky, "Sister-in-law, be careful on your way. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me."
She also had to go in and cook.
Zhou Yunru nodded, said goodbye to Uncle Li, and then left.
In her heart, she was actually a little uneasy. Wang Hongxia must be furious after not coming home all day.
She stood at the door and listened. The courtyard was very quiet. She wondered if everyone had already eaten and gone inside.
Zhou Yunru bit her lip and pushed the door open.
"Decided to come back?"
As soon as she stepped inside, she saw Wang Hongxia's figure.
Zhou Yunru's heart leaped to her throat in fear, and she stammered, "Mom..."
Wang Hongxia let out a cold snort, "You have quite the nerve, not even coming home! Do you think that by not coming home, you don't have to do chores? Are you expecting to be married into our old Zhao family just to enjoy a life of leisure without doing anything?"
Zhou Yunru bit her lip, feeling wronged.
"Mom, ever since I got married, no matter the wind or rain, even when I was sick, I never missed a single day of housework. Speaking to me like this is unfair."
Wang Hongxia glared at her, her face contorted with rage, "Isn't this what you're supposed to do? Which daughter-in-law in the world hasn't gone through this?"
Zhou Yunru gritted her teeth and retorted, "Cheng Tao isn't! Ever since she got married, she hasn't done any work!"
"How can you compare yourself to Cheng Tao?"
"Is it that I can't compare to Cheng Tao, or is it that Jianguo can't compare to the second child?"
Wang Hongxia was so angry she raised her hand to hit her but managed to restrain herself.
"I'm not arguing with you about this. Where did you go to slack off today?"
Zhou Yunru felt exhausted. Her mood had never been good in this family.
Could this child really be born safely?
"I went to Uncle Li's house to see a doctor. I'm pregnant and feel unwell. I won't be able to do all the housework from now on. Cheng Tao will have to help."
Wang Hongxia's anger ignited like a burning fuse, surging upwards.
Everything Cheng Tao said had come true, which proved Cheng Tao wasn't lying!
Before Zhou Yunru could react, she saw Wang Hongxia pick up a thick stick and swing it at her.
By the time she reacted, the stick had already landed on her back.
Zhou Yunru felt as if her internal organs were about to be beaten out, but she couldn't care about the pain. She covered her stomach with both hands.
"Mom, what are you doing? I'm really pregnant. Don't hit me! Don't hit me!"
The more she pleaded, the angrier Wang Hongxia became, wanting to beat her to death.
Zhou Yunru dodged a few times, but wherever she went, the stick followed.
Blow after blow, it almost felt like her bones would break.
Until she cried out in pain and collapsed on the ground, her hands still protectively covering her stomach.
Zhao Yunlin inside the house felt a sense of unease.
"Won't this cause trouble?"
Cheng Tao rolled over, a slight smile curving her lips, "What trouble could there be? Which mother-in-law hasn't disciplined her daughter-in-law?"